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Mission Impossible 4: Wildly Entertaining

MI4 exists purely to dazzle and thrill us. As special effects become ever more computer-dependent, and as digital animation becomes increasingly photo-realistic, MI4:Ghost protocol pays off with one of the most expertly constructed and choreographed pure action films in recent memory.

Plot

A mission to retrieve information from deep within the Kremlin is cut short by a terrorist bombing, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is blamed for the attack, forcing the government to disavow the agent and his IMF team, including Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). Desperate to clear their names, the squad sets their sights on the nuclear weapon of Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), a madman working to start WWIII. Tearing off to Dubai and Mumbai to thwart his plans, Ethan encounters trouble with Hendricks’s henchwoman Sabine, and faces the addition of government analyst William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) to the team, requiring extra care with the suspicious newcomer. With the very fate of the world at stake, Ethan leaps into battle, using his skill, partnerships, and dazzling gadgets to bring Hendricks down.

The Good

The excitement begins as we find Tom Cruise jailed in a Moscow prison. It is hard to imagine the feeling of anxiety filled awe as Tom Cruise scales the largest building in the world(Burj Khalifa, 160 storeys tall), but once you witness it on screen, you will definitely feel it.

The director is Brad Bird, best known for his animation movies on Pixar productions such as “Ratatouille” and, more importantly, “The Incredibles". It's a risky proposition for any animation director to make the leap over to live action, but for Brad Bird it seemed only natural.

Tom Cruise(he'll turn 50 next year) is quite appealing, in fact, without asking to be admired or liked.He has pulled off most of the breathtaking stunts without a body double. Simon Pegg as the computer genius serves as a comic relief.

The film is set in Mumbai for a good 20 minutes though not entirely shot in the capital of Mumbai. Nevertheless, the 'glossy' portrayal of the city is a relief compared to the poverty striken cliche in Hollywood Movies.

MI4 may not be a smart film, but that's not a deficiency here. This film exists purely for its action sequences, and by that measure, it delivers expertly, never lagging despite a lengthy 135-minute running time. Action genre fans won't pay attention to few imperfections in the script which slows down the pace in the second half. Finally, “Ghost Protocol” makes one thing clear, that there are still plenty of great missions ahead.

This action-packed roller coaster of a movie seamlessly pulls you in and, it has really accomplished it's mission.